Box



April 10, 1945. F, C, sHlNA 2,373,423

BOX

Filed Nov. 27, 1942 2 Sheelts-Sheet 1 Alfil l0 1945- I F. c. sHlNA l I 2,373,423

BOX

Filed Nov. 2'7, 1942 -2 Sheets-Sheet 2 if my jm/7,

Patented Apr. 10, 1945 BOX Frank C. Shina, Urbana, hio, assignor to United Paperboard Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation ol New Jersey Application November 27, 1942, Serial o. 467,138

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to a novel box. More particularly the present invention relates to a novel box of the snap-lock type.

Although boxes of this type are known in the art. in general they included relatively complex structures having a plurality of projecting tabs or the like which made them diilicult to manufacture. The Iuse of small projecting tabs also rendered the box more fragile, i. e., the small tabs were easily torn from the blank and thereafter the box was unusable.

In my U. S. Patent No. 2,339,656. there is disclosed a box which did not include any projecting tabs or the like and was relatively simple and easy to manufacture. This type of box, however, while in the main satisfactory, was not entirely suitable for the larger sizes of boxes.

It is one of the objects of the present invention, therefore, to provide a box construction of the snap-lock type which is suitable for almost any size construction.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a box of the snap-lock type wherein a simple manual pressure will simultaneously intei-lock the iiaps thereof in such position as to resist opening movement by relatively heavy loads. v

A third object of the present invention is to provide a box easily locked by simple manual pressure including a pair of bottom flaps and top flap cooperating with both of said bottom flaps and with an intermediate flap to retain said intermediate flap in position.

A fourth object of the present invention is to provide in a box of the character described a simple interlocking box construction wherein a plurality of end flaps are each interlocked with a single end flap having marginal edges extending along fold linesof adjacent flaps to aid in preserving the shape of the box.

A fifth object of the present invention is to provide a box construction wherein a, simple Figure 1 n a blank of a box according to the present invention:

upper ap cooperates with a plurality of underlying flaps to form a secure snap-locking closure for a box end.

A sixth object of the present invention is to provide a. box construction wherein an upper ap member may be easily interlocked with a pair of opposed bottom flap members and including an intermediate flap member retained in position by said upper ilap and cut away to permit interlocking of said upper flap and bottom aps.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the sub- Figure 2 is a perspective view of the box of the present invention with the bottom flaps and intermediate nap in position;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the box of the present invention with the upper flap being pressed into locking position;

Figure 4 is a perspective view similar to Figures 2 and 3 with the flaps in nal interlocked position; l

Figure 5 is a section taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a section taken on the line 3-6 of Figure 4;

Figure 'I is an enlarged detail section of a portion of Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly Figure 1 thereof, a box blank is indicated in general at I0. The blank I0 ls provided with a glue flap II and side portions I2, I3, I4 and I5 respectively. The glue flap II is separated from the side I2 by the vertical fold line IB and the sides I2, I3 I4 and I5 are separated by the fold lines I1, I8 and I9 respectively.

Projecting from the sides I3 and` I5 and separated therefrom by the horizontal fold lines 29 and 2i are conventional side flaps 22 and 23. Similarly, projecting from the side I5 is a conventionalouter flap 24 separated from the side I5 by a fold line 25. The flap 24 is also provided with a tuck-in flap 26 separated from the remainder of the flap 24 by a fold line 21. As may be understood,the flaps 22,- 23 and 24 form a. conventionalclosure for one .end of the box Ill. Further, the glue `flap II may be glued or other- Wise fastened to theside I5 to form a box.

The particular closure of the present invention includes the iiaps 23, 29, 30 and 3|. As shown, the nap 23 extends'from the side I2 and is separated therefrom by the fold line 32, while the aps 29, 30 and 3l extend lfromthe sides I3, I4 and I5 and are each separated from its respective side by the fold lines 33, 34 and 35'. The flap 28 is cut away or notched at its end edge, as indicated at 33, and is further cut away or notched at each marginal edge or'side edge as indicated at 31 and 38 for a purpose to be hereinafter described. It will be noted in particular that the cutaway portion or notched portion 33 is wider at its outer edge lthan at its inner edge as the two sides dening the notched portion 36 and indicated at 39 and 49 respectively slant inwardly slightly the flaps. Short c ross slits and 41 extend transversely to form displaceable portions 4I and Il.

The end edge of the flap 3l is notched at Il and Il to form a projecting tab l2 of a size and positioned to interlock with the notch It or the Referring to Figure 2, the box I l is shown glued and folded into rectangular shape. The naps 2l and 30 have been bent at the fold lines Il and ll so that they are opposed to one another and at right angles to sides of the box. The flaps 25 and 30 thus constitute bottom ilaps and also'folded upon these bottom ilaps is the intermediate ilap 28. It will be noted that in this position the side notches of the ilap 28 extend beyond the slits 44 and 45 due to the angle and length of the side edges l2 and Il. It will also be noted that the side edge portions 53 and Il also bounding the notches are in general parallel to the slits M and 45. a

In Figure 3 the upper iiap 3l has been bent over along the fold line M and pressed inwardly so that the marginal edges indicated at 55 and 5I displace downwardly` the portions adjacent the slits 44 and 45 to allow the entry of the side marginal edges 55 and 55. At the same time the tab 52 and end edge of the flap 3l is pushed downwardly so that the tabl! enters the notch It.

When, therefore, the ilap III is released and rea turns to the position of Figure 4 the end edges of the lilaps and 30 are interlocked with the tab 52 in the notch 35. Due to the slanting edges 39 and III, the interlock is easily eiected. In addition the marginal edges 55 and 55 of the ap 30 are extended through the slits u and I5 to lie along the inner surface of the fold lines 33 and 35. This latter arrangement braces the box and preserves its shape. It is evident therefore that the flap SII is interlocked and retains in position all of the other flaps forming the closure. The

y close proximity of all of the interlocks strengthens the entire closure and prevents opening thereof under relatively heavy loads.

It will WhatIs clalmcdis:

1. In a box construction including four side walls. end flaps projecting from said side walls toward an opposed sidewall and connected with each respective side wall by a'fold line. one pair of opposed flaps constituting bottom flaps and being each provided with slits extending from the respective fold line of each nap in position to receive respective marginal edges of another iiap constituting an upper iiap. cross slits in said bottom ilaps extending transversely from the first mentioned slits and forming with said ilrst mentioned slits displaceable portions for facilitating the entry of said marginal edges into said first slits. said marginal edges when extended through said ilrst slits lying along the fold lines connectingsaid lower flaps and their sides so as to aid in maintaining the shape or said box, and a fourth flap having a substantial portion lying intermediate the first pair of flaps and the upper flap so that said upper flap when extended through said rst slits will retain said intermediate ilap in position. said last flap having cut-away portions adjacent said ilrstslits to permit entry of said marginal edges into said slits.

2. In a box construction including four side walls, end naps projecting from said side walls toward an opposed side wall and connected with each respective side wall by a fold line, one paix; of opposed flaps constituting bottom flaps and being each provided with slits extending from the respective fold line of each flap in position to receive respective marginal edges of another flap constituting an upper flap, cross slits in said bottom iiaps extending transversely from the ilrst mentioned slits and forming with said ilrst mentioned slits displaoeable portions for facilitating the entry of said marginal edges into said first slits, said marginal edges when extended through said ilrst slits lying along the fold lines connecting said lower ilaps and their sides so as to aid in maintaining the shape of said box, a fourth flap lying intermediate the ilrst pair of flaps and the upper flap so that said upper flap when extended through said iirst slits will retain said in termediate liiap in position. said last flap having cut-away portions adjacent said first slits to permit entry of said marginal edges into said slits, and means on the end margin of said fourth flap interengaging with means on the end margin of said upper flap.

FRANK C. SHINA. 

